Baicalin and geniposide attenuate atherosclerosis involving lipids regulation and immunoregulation in ApoE-/- mice

Baicalin and geniposide, which are respectively isolated from Scutellariae radix and Gardenia jusrninoides, have been known to exhibit a number of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Here, we primarily aimed to observe the protective effects of these two Chinese herbs on inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice via lipids regulation and immunoregulation. After the ApoE-/- mice with high-cholesterol diet had received 12-weeks' oral administration of either baicalin or geniposide (100 mg/kg), atherosclerotic plaque areas in aorta were measured and exhibited a prominent decrease in the treated mice. We then assayed serum lipids levels, serum Treg-cell-associated cytokines (TGF-beta 1 and IL-10) and the frequency of splenic Treg cells. We found that geniposide notably decreased serum TC and LDL-c. Both baicalin and geniposide treated mice showed much more splenic Treg cells and the correlated cytokines (TGF-beta 1 and IL-10). Foxp3, as the marker of Treg cell, was detected in atherosclerotic lesions, and we found that Foxp3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels was up-regulated in addition to increased Foxp3 positive Treg cells detected by immunohistochemistry in baicalin or geniposide treated mice. In conclusion, baicalin and geniposicle upregulated the expression of foxp3, promoted the number and function of Treg cells and ameliorated the atherosclerotic lesions progression partly through lipids regulation and immunoregulation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.